{"id":23833,"date":"1900-07-08T12:56:28","date_gmt":"1900-07-08T11:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.propertysurveying.co.uk\/newsletter\/?page_id=23833"},"modified":"2020-07-14T11:09:33","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T10:09:33","slug":"legal-2-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.propertysurveying.co.uk\/newsletter\/?page_id=23833","title":{"rendered":"Legal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Court<\/h3>\n
\"image<\/a>\n

Homeowners fight to reclaim properties after trust scheme failures<\/a><\/h4>\n
Thousands of homeowners thought they were protecting their homes for their children by using a trust scheme. Instead, they lost legal ownership and have been fighting for years to get ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"leasehold<\/a>\n

Sheffield homeowners face pressure from new freeholder<\/a><\/h4>\n
Hundreds of Sheffield homeowners are dealing with what they describe as threatening letters after a London solicitor purchased the freehold to their properties at auction. Andrew Milne acquired the ownership ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"silica<\/a>\n

Kitchen worktop trend triggers deadly lung disease crisis<\/a><\/h4>\n
An emerging health catastrophe is emerging as those cutting fashionable artificial stone countertops are an increasingly at risk of developing a fatal lung condition. The number of people affected is ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"house<\/a>\n

Home owner compensated for inappropriate foundations<\/a><\/h4>\n
A homeowner has secured a substantial payout after purchasing a property ten years ago, partly financing it by trading in their previous home. The High Court ruled that the house ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Party<\/a>\n

Home sale forced after five year boundary dispute<\/a><\/h4>\n
A retired woman faces losing her home after a disagreement over a one-foot strip of land escalated into a five-year legal nightmare, demonstrating how neighbour disputes can spiral disastrously out ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"London<\/a>\n

Kuwait fund takes London developers to court over blocked sunlight<\/a><\/h4>\n
A legal battle is brewing in London's financial district as Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund sues the developers of a new skyscraper, claiming the building will steal sunlight from their property ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"court<\/a>\n

Homeowners win court battle over 170 footballs landing in garden<\/a><\/h4>\n
A couple living next to a primary school have won a legal victory after enduring nearly 170 footballs kicked into their \u00a32 million property within a single year. Mohamed and ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"image<\/a>\n

House returned to rightful owner after theft<\/a><\/h4>\n
A clergyman has finally regained possession of his Luton home nearly four years after it was sold without his knowledge, following the eviction of a family living there. Mike Hall ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"old<\/a>\n

Warning over potential for Power of Attorney abuse<\/a><\/h4>\n
Two unmarried brothers, with no children to take over the farm they loved, have been conned into signing over their property by a church minister and local businessman. The three ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Old<\/a>\n

Make a gift of your family home<\/a><\/h4>\n
While there are some benefits to making a gift of your family home, there are some potential pitfalls of which you should be aware. Inheritance Tax Avoidance of Inheritance Tax ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Gavel<\/a>\n

Deposit scandal hits home improvers<\/a><\/h4>\n
The High Court has wound up three Manchester kitchen companies after an investigation by the Insolvency Service. The business practices of Smart Choice Kitchens Ltd and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Detail<\/a>\n

Couple win High Court moth infestation legal case<\/a><\/h4>\n
A moth infestation in a luxury west London home, Horbury Villa in Ladbroke Grove,\u00a0 sparked an unusual high-profile court case over the eco-friendly insulation. Billionaire homeowners, Iya Patarkatsishvili and Vevhen ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"A<\/a>\n

Property law changes in 2025<\/a><\/h4>\n
The UK's property sector is set to undergo some key legislative changes this year, some of which will affect home owners and renters. Many of the changes were announced in ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Front<\/a>\n

Contrived attempt at tax avoidance using Multiple Dwelling Relief<\/a><\/h4>\n
A \"contrived\" attempt at tax avoidance by declaring a pool house as a separate dwelling to a property has been prosecuted by the Inland Revenue. Alexander and Rebecca Clark had ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"million<\/a>\n

Home seller miffed after being haggled out of millions<\/a><\/h4>\n
It would be fair to say that most people buy and sell property for a price they think is acceptable and finding out that the buyer of your property can ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"messy<\/a>\n

Home owners too busy to take pride in the outside of their property<\/a><\/h4>\n
In many towns around the UK, you don't have to look far to see neglected kerb sides, pavements and gardens, whether it be from overgrown weeds or garden plants or ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"image<\/a>\n

Dry rot case reaches High Court<\/a><\/h4>\n
A pre-trial hearing at The High Court in London has been told that the sellers of a beautiful Berkshire property had sold their home in the knowledge it was riddled ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"brick<\/a>\n

Trio of rogue traders jailed after stealing \u00a345,000<\/a><\/h4>\n
Brothers Matty and James Rossiter and Dean Smith filmed themselves bragging about their scam, which involved preying mainly on elderly people. The fraudsters would target people that they perceived to ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"blocks<\/a>\n

Fire safety legislation in houses and blocks of flats<\/a><\/h4>\n
The government has published its Fire Safety Briefing into the fire safety of houses and blocks of flats. We discuss the legislation in England but it should be noted that ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Estate<\/a>\n

Estate agents fined \u00a31.6 million<\/a><\/h4>\n
HMRC has issued fined which total in excess of \u00a31.6 million to estate agents who have failed to register or re-register with them for Anti-Money Laundering (AML). The fine imposed ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"house<\/a>\n

Suspended sentence for cowboy builder<\/a><\/h4>\n
The victims of a cowboy builder have been left \"grossly\" out of pocket, with unsafe building work carried out in their homes after taking payment in advance. The loft conversion ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"brick<\/a>\n

Planning issue (not) solved with hammer<\/a><\/h4>\n
A home owner in Norfolk has been charged with causing criminal damage, following a disagreement over an outside wall built adjacent to the front of his single width driveway. Keith ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"high<\/a>\n

Most high rise managers failing fire fighters in South Yorkshire<\/a><\/h4>\n
Legislation was introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 which required some building managers to provide information to the fire service. However, few building managers have complied with the ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"photo<\/a>\n

Garden village wins legal battle<\/a><\/h4>\n
In a High Court hearing, planning inspectors have been found to have acted unlawfully when advising West Oxfordshire District Council. Rights Community Action (RCA), a climate group, challenged the decision ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Get<\/a>\n

Thumbs up to sealing a deal!<\/a><\/h4>\n
Dealing with issues to do with buying or selling property or in your current home is a stressful process for most people. So, when communicating by WhatsApp, text, Messenger or ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Front<\/a>\n

Builder fined over non-compliant fire doors<\/a><\/h4>\n
Trading standards officers in North Yorkshire have prosecuted a builder over the fitting of \u2018potentially unsafe\u2019 fire doors under consumer protection from the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Aztech Building and ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Gargoyle<\/a>\n

Nimby neighbours (allegedly) block couple from wine society<\/a><\/h4>\n
In Ridgeway v McGuinness, The Ridgeway (Oxshott) Management Company (RO) sought to prevent Emma and Terence McGuinness from replacing their four bedroom single property with two separate dwellings on the ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Gavel<\/a>\n

Construction company brothers and accomplices jailed<\/a><\/h4>\n
Two brothers have been convicted of committing tax fraud while running construction installation companies in Hull. The proceeds of the brothers' fraud amounted to more than \u00a37 million. Father of ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"leasehold<\/a>\n

Landlord and tenant claim rejected through underpaid fee<\/a><\/h4>\n
A claim has been thrown out of High Court because the solicitor mistakenly underpaid the court fee. Barry Roy Peterson and Andrew Charles Blake (the claimants) were the successors in ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"substantial<\/a>\n

Renting Homes Wales Act amended<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Welsh Government has published a draft amendment to the Renting Homes Wales Act, which affects the terms of converted contracts and any subsequent renewals that replace them. The Renting ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"house<\/a>\n

Conflict of interest solicitor fined \u00a332,000<\/a><\/h4>\n
A solicitor with over 30 years\u2019 experience has been disciplined for conflict of interest by working with \u2018the other side\u2019. John Charles Wright held a management position with the south ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"rather<\/a>\n

Supreme Court rules on visual intrusion<\/a><\/h4>\n
The \u2018rather splendid\u2019 view offered by the viewing gallery at the Tate Modern in London has, after all, been deemed a visual intrusion.\u00a0High Court judge, Mr Justice Mann, had previously ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Mural<\/a>\n

Tenant jailed for trying to sell rental property<\/a><\/h4>\n
In February 2020, Andrew Smith took on the tenancy of a property, having claimed that he had moved to the area for work. However, less than two weeks after taking ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Money<\/a>\n

Property developers to pay millions to National Crime Agency<\/a><\/h4>\n
An investigation by the National Crime Agency has resulted in the recovery of \u00a34.3 million from two property developer brothers with a 30 year career in the business. The proceeds ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Party<\/a>\n

The Party Wall Act – know your rights<\/a><\/h4>\n
A recent court decision has concluded that the Party Wall etc Act 1996 did not apply because a Notice under the Act was not served on a neighbour. So how ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"rental<\/a>\n

Sex for rent – at last!<\/a><\/h4>\n
A staggering 30,000 female private property renters in the UK have been offered a rent-free home in return for sex for rent - sexual favours - in just the last ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"cracks<\/a>\n

Essential repairs and property maintenance – trespass or not?<\/a><\/h4>\n
Going on to your neighbour's land is sometimes necessary to carry out essential repairs to your property. Consequently, the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992, provides for this with a ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Building<\/a>\n

Building Safety Act now in force<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Building Safety Act, which overhauls building safety regulation after the Grenfell Tower fire, came into effect on 28th April 2022 and includes some changes that apply to all new ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Homes<\/a>\n

Homes for Ukraine scheme<\/a><\/h4>\n
The government has now introduced its Homes for Ukraine scheme, under which sponsors are paid directly by the government for housing a Ukrainian family escaping the horrors of their war-torn ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Lasting<\/a>\n

Inconsistencies prevent fraudulent sale of home<\/a><\/h4>\n
A few inconsistencies were all it took for a property owner to prevent the fraudulent sale of her home. It was only when the freeholder of her property told a ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Money<\/a>\n

Widow fights ‘cruel and greedy children’ over estate<\/a><\/h4>\n
A High Court battle is underway between a widow and her son, her daughter and two stepchildren. Her husband, Patrick Seale, was a correspondent for The Observer and a renowned ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Plumbing<\/a>\n

Conveyancing firm blames recent cyber breach for months of poor service<\/a><\/h4>\n
A conveyancing firm with the ambition to 'simplify moving' has left property purchasers uninformed or abandoned. A cyber security incident has been blamed for property deals breaking down, leaving some ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Scales<\/a>\n

Judge rules on doorbell privacy row<\/a><\/h4>\n
A ruling on the unjustifiable invasion of privacy could have implications for home security devices across the country. As an audio-visual technician, Jon Woodard knew what he was doing when ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"House<\/a>\n

Lloyds Bank sued over shared appreciation mortgages<\/a><\/h4>\n
Lloyds Banking Group is being taken to the High Court by 150 home owners later this year.\u00a0The properties were all mortgaged under the bank\u2019s \u2018shared appreciation mortgage\u2019 deal, which allowed ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"police<\/a>\n

Fraudster sells property after presenting genuine ID<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reproached a firm of solicitors in Bradford, Yorkshire, for failing to carry out proper checks on the prospective seller of a property who turned out ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"photo<\/a>\n

Legal challenge lost over building on Oxfordshire green belt<\/a><\/h4>\n
In\u00a0Cherwell Development Watch Alliance v Cherwell District Council & Anor [2021] EWHC 2190, the High Court ruling on 30th July has dashed all hopes of preventing the building of 4,400 ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Cryptocurrency<\/a>\n

Cashing in your cryptocurrency to buy property?<\/a><\/h4>\n
The National Crime Agency has expressed concerns over the use of cryptocurrency to purchase assets including property in the UK. Cryptocurrency can be used to covertly move funds between people ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"House<\/a>\n

TA6 Part 1 pilot scheme announced for buying and selling property<\/a><\/h4>\n
Is the Law Society helping to increase conveyancing fees? The Law Society, in conjunction with InfoTrack and Perfect Portal, has announced the introduction of a new pilot scheme designed to ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"New<\/a>\n

House builders using settlement agreements to disguise poor quality buildings<\/a><\/h4>\n
The chairman of the Parliamentary Housing Committee says house builders should be forced to let home owners know when systematic defects might affect their new property.\u00a0Clive Betts MP said some ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"apartment<\/a>\n

Housing secretary announces leasehold reform<\/a><\/h4>\n
A long-awaited reform of property law in England has been announced by the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, including leasehold reform with new rights and protections for leaseholders in England. Properties ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Bromley-by-Bow<\/a>\n

Gas explosion builder cleared of health and safety breaches<\/a><\/h4>\n
Magistrates in Salisbury have cleared a builder of health and safety breaches, after a gas explosion at the property on which his company worked. The block of flats was partly ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"high<\/a>\n

The cladding companies putting profits ahead of safety<\/a><\/h4>\n
The inquiry that follows the June 2017 fire, in which 72 people died at the Grenfell Tower in West London, has highlighted some of the shocking tactics of the management ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"chandelier<\/a>\n

Property worth \u00a310 million surrendered to NCA<\/a><\/h4>\n
Despite never having been convicted of a crime, a Leeds businessman has handed over 45 properties, and the Poundland brand name, to the National Crime Agency (NCA). The properties handed ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"new<\/a>\n

Major housebuilders under investigation over leaseholds<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that it is investigating four of the UK's largest housebuilders, following what it described as 'troubling evidence' over their methods of selling ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Gavel<\/a>\n

Grosvenor Property Developers consultant faces prison<\/a><\/h4>\n
Sanjiv Varma, who claimed to be a consultant to developer, Grosvenor Property Developers Ltd, has been found guilty of contempt in the High Court for failing to disclose assets and ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"New<\/a>\n

Ban on ‘No DSS’ after court judgement<\/a><\/h4>\n
The case against 'No DSS' stipulations stepped up a notch when two mothers recently won out of court settlements against two letting agents. A judge in York County Court ruled ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Money<\/a>\n

Stoke on Trent solar panel company accused of Erroneous Transfers<\/a><\/h4>\n
Tenants of properties in Stoke on Trent have accused a solar panel company of mis-selling by making Erroneous Transfers. The company worked with the City Council offering free panels with ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"London<\/a>\n

McMafia law claims London properties<\/a><\/h4>\n
Three multi-million homes in London has been seized as part of the National Crime Agency's Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) powers, or so-called 'McMafia law'. The properties in Hampstead, Chelsea, and ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Court of Appeal rejects appeal against first Unexplained Wealth Order<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Court of Appeal has rejected Zamira Hajiyeva's appeal against the UK's first Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO), meaning she must now reveal the source of her wealth. She has been ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Estate agent price-fixing cartels broken up by CMA<\/a><\/h4>\n
The three price-fixing estate agent cartels that colluded to fix fees for letting and selling properties have now been broken up by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Price-fixing results ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Home owners take legal action against mortgage lenders<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Treasury has pledged to be working on the removal of barriers to cheaper deals that have trapped 'mortgage prisoners'. However, 150,000 people under the banner 'UK Mortgage Prisoner Action ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Landlord v Tenant, Residential v Commercial – Supreme Court ruling in leasehold enfranchisement \/ planning dispute<\/a><\/h4>\n
In Sequent Nominees Ltd v Hautford Ltd [2019] the Supreme Court justices have ruled that a freeholder was entitled to withhold consent from a leaseholder who wished to apply for ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Nottingham breach of planning regulations fined \u00c2\u00a320,000<\/a><\/h4>\n
A Nottingham couple have become embroiled in a dispute with their local council over a breach of planning regulations by building in their back garden. Ishitaq Ahmed and his wife ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Homeowner says Persimmon Homes solicitor failed to highlight restrictive covenants<\/a><\/h4>\n
A homeowner in Pembroke has complained about her discovery of several restrictive covenants on her property, although she wasn't informed about them when she bought the new build property, even ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Legal: Restrictive covenants preventing sale of property<\/a><\/h4>\n
The neighbouring properties of 141 and 141A Dunstans Road in East Dulwich, London, originally formed a single double fronted Victorian home. In October 1983, the home's owner split the property ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Is it legal for a landlord to lock access to a shared property’s thermostat?<\/a><\/h4>\n
A landlord has installed a locked cover over the Nest thermostat of the shared house she owns in Ealing, London. The move means that hot water and central heating settings ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Overage Agreement explained in light of recent High Court ruling<\/a><\/h4>\n
Properties and land are often sold if there is a potential for increased value with an overage agreement. Case law has recently addressed the clause that is often used: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153detailed ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Legal: \u00c2\u00a3500,000 fine for planning offence<\/a><\/h4>\n
The highest penalty ever imposed for a planning offence in central London has been given to a landlord prosecuted by Westminster City Council, who divided his home into flats without ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\"image<\/a>\n

Solicitors’ lucky escape<\/a><\/h4>\n
The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee has conducted an extensive inquiry into leasehold reform.\u00c2\u00a0 This month (July 2019) the government published its response. It seems ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Berkshire estate agents accused of price fixing<\/a><\/h4>\n
Four Berkshire estate agents stand accused by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of forming a 'price fixing cartel', exchanging information and fixing commission for their own financial gain. The ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Is the leasehold system fair and transparent?<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Competition and Markets Authority has at long last opened an investigation into the practices of the leasehold property market. The investigation launched on 11th June 2019 follows years of ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Legal: Wells v Devani<\/a><\/h4>\n
In Wells v Devani [2019], estate agent Mr Devani claimed that commission was payable to him by the vendor, Mr Wells, on completion of the sale of his flats to ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

New laws on electrical safety<\/a><\/h4>\n
Landlords of private rented property will soon need to ensure that the electrics in their properties are checked to ensure they are as safe as they ought to be, under ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Greedy landlord guilty of disregarding planning enforcement<\/a><\/h4>\n
Reading Crown Court has sentenced a Langley landlord to a suspended prison term and ordered him to pay over \u00c2\u00a3300,000 for costs and compensation. Talwinder Singh built a block of ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Inadequate solicitors advice possibly leading to homeowners trapped by ‘fleeceholds’<\/a><\/h4>\n
A crisis on a scale compared to the recent PPI scandal has left home owners and MPs alike wanting answers, as new home owners are being lumbered with annual charges ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Stepney landlady wins legal fight to make noise<\/a><\/h4>\n
A pub landlady in Stepney, East London has won a landmark victory to prevent people who will live in an unbuilt development from complaining in the future about noise pollution ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Privacy Law – visitors to Tate Modern can enjoy ‘rather splendid’ view<\/a><\/h4>\n
Property owners of the multi-million pound Neo Bankside flats next door to the Tate Modern's \u00a3260 million Switch House Building in London have lost their privacy case at the High ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Serious Fraud Office investigating major property developments<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has opened investigations into suspected fraud related to three major property developments. Angelgate, Manchester \u00c2\u00a377 million Pinnacle Angelgate in Manchester was developed by Pinnacle (Angelgate) ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Solicitor jailed for property fraud offences<\/a><\/h4>\n
Manchester Crown Court has sentenced a conveyancing solicitor to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of three offences of money laundering over a period of five years, up ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

New tenant rights to sue landlord<\/a><\/h4>\n
A new private members bill has been passed in the Commons, enabling tenants to take legal action if their private or social rented home does not meet the minimum standards ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Judicial Guidance on Party Wall Act surveyor fees<\/a><\/h4>\n
What is Party Wall Work? The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 introduced a procedure for the resolution of disputes between owners of neighbouring properties, arising as a result of one ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Moore v National Westminster Bank Plc<\/a><\/h4>\n
In\u00c2\u00a0Moore v National Westminster Bank Plc\u00c2\u00a0the High Court upheld an award of damages awarded for breach of contract by the lender when it failed to arrange a Home Buyers Report ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Leasehold law headache continues<\/a><\/h4>\n
Barclays Bank has reignited the debate on unfair leasehold practices, after refusing to lend against a high profile development in Stratford, in the London Borough of Newham. The main cause ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

HMRC battles with DIY<\/a><\/h4>\n
In September 2010, Mr and Mrs McHugh sold the home they had built for themselves between November 2004 and December 2007. During the build, the couple lived in another property ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Representatives of G. Graham v HMRC (2018)<\/a><\/h4>\n
Business Property Relief is currently denied to businesses that \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcconsist wholly or mainly of dealing with securities, stocks or shares, land or buildings, or making or holding investments\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, including property ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Landmark legal ruling: Mills v Mills<\/a><\/h4>\n
In a legal challenge by her former husband, the Supreme Court has ruled that an ex-wife cannot force her divorced husband to increase the amount of maintenance payments simply because ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Fraudulent sales of property<\/a><\/h4>\n
Conjoined Appeal in Court of Appeal on Fraudulent Sale of Properties: P&P Property Ltd v Owen White & Catlin LLP ; Dreamvar (UK) Limited v Mishcon de Reya; An Important ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

What the law allows you to do when confronted with an intruder in your home?<\/a><\/h4>\n
The terrifying prospect of finding an intruder in your home is fortunately something few of us have to deal with. But with the news this month that 78 year old ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Localism Act 2011 being used to trap people in homelessness<\/a><\/h4>\n
The Localism Act 2011 gave councils the power to restrict access to social housing. Since the law change became effective, the total number of households on waiting lists in England ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Equality laws highlight discrimination against housing benefit claimants<\/a><\/h4>\n
A recent legal case has highlighted the practices of thousands of letting agents and landlords that discriminate against tenants, in particular women. The case, brought to the county court by ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Why aren’t more homes being bought under commonhold law?<\/a><\/h4>\n
In 2016, 98% of flats were purchased 'leasehold' - giving the purchaser ownership of the property for a fixed number of years during which they pay ground rent to the ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

New Bill could be the end of expensive boundary disputes<\/a><\/h4>\n
The cost of boundary disputes was highlighted recently in the well publicised case of the London family who lost their \u00c2\u00a3600k home of 31 years to their neighbours, after losing ...
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>\n

Legal loophole benefiting holiday home owners may soon close<\/a><\/h4>\n
In our article \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwhy do we need new homes?\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 we identified tax evasion over business rates and council tax by landlords as one of the problems contributing to the current ...
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April 2018 government legislation changes to HMOs and EPCs<\/a><\/h4>\n
Spring 2018 brings with it changes to Government legislation on Houses of Multiple Occupation and Energy Performance Certificates in rented accommodation. HMO Legislation changes The Government is proposing changes to ...
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Planning law update: Local Authority being challenged over breaches of air pollution laws resulting in invalidation of Local Plan<\/a><\/h4>\n
Environmental campaigner, Emily Shirley, has brought a legal challenge over Canterbury\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s adoption of its Local Plan, claiming that the city did not properly consider the impact on air pollution of ...
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Money Laundering Regulations update takes effect<\/a><\/h4>\n
In an attempt to further address the estimated \u00c2\u00a324 billion a year 'generated' by organised crime, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations ...
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Storm Gertrude: School collapse is the tip of the PPP iceberg<\/a><\/h4>\n
In January 2016, Oxgangs Primary School in\u00c2\u00a0Edinburgh\u00c2\u00a0made the news headlines when Storm Gertrude brought nine tons of bricks falling to the ground.\u00c2\u00a0 The shocking collapse identified significant defects and a ...
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How to protect your property from title fraud<\/a><\/h4>\n
On 20th August this year, while working away from his home in Luton, the Rev Mike Hall was alerted by a neighbour that someone was in his house. He drove ...
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